Sep 23, 2009

Looking for ways to promote businessBy Kyle LazarusKingsburgRecorder.com

Glimmers of escaping the recession hasn’t stopped some Kingsburg downtown business owners from finding ways to streamline their businesses — even if the recession hasn’t affected their business. There has consistently been businesses setting up and closing down shop along Draper Street in Kingsburg over the past year since the recession really hit.

Some stores are doing just fine, but others are feeling the effects of the recession. Betty Sommerville, owner of The 50’s Place on Draper Street said her store is doing “fabulous.” Sommerville sells all things ’50s, from Elvis cutouts to retro neon-lined clocks. “I didn’t feel the recession at all, I really didn’t,” she said.

She said a couple months ago, it was slower than normal. But that’s picked up.

“I think this stuff makes people feel good when they walk in,” Sommerville said. “They can’t leave without something.”

Sommerville said her overhead is not too high, which bolsters her confidence. But she said she doesn’t think that the recession is going anywhere fast, especially since she has seen businesses come and go in downtown Kingsburg.

“I feel bad for downtown because we need shops and antique stores and those are leaving,” she said. “I cried when Apple Dumplin closed.”

The recession has made Sommerville change some of her budgeting. She wants to get smarter with her money and put it where it can bring her the most business. At Sommerville’s home east of Kingsburg she puts on parties and Jeremy “Elvis” Pearce performs once a month.

Read complete article.